He was found dead on Friday by his brother Fraser after
having fallen down external stairs to his Epsom home that
morning.

Yesterday, his brother said the family were devastated by the
loss of the "very social, gregarious" architect, who is
survived by twin 17-year-old sons and a 13-year-old daughter.

"It looks like he has fallen down the steps at his house.
We're not sure if it's a heart attack or he's just slipped,"
Fraser Wyllie said. "A neighbour alerted me and I found him."

His death had been referred to the coroner.

A graduate of Victoria University in Wellington, Mr Wyllie
worked in Moscow, the Pacific Islands and London - where he
led a team redeveloping Waterloo Station in 1993. He returned
to New Zealand in the mid-1990s and set up his own business
in Auckland.

"It's just tragic," his brother said. "He was larger than
life if you met him, you wouldn't forget. He looked after
everyone, he was so caring. He was a pretty special guy."

He was the architect on Prime's The Kiwi Dream, a Grand
Designs-style makeover show featuring the renovation of a
million-dollar cliff-top Glendowie home.

The Kiwi Dream host Evie Ashton said she was "absolutely
shocked and saddened" by news of Mr Wyllie's death.

"Dean was a very talented, lovable guy who adored his kids
and was a pleasure to laugh and work with," she said.

Geoff Burton, a director at MWC Media, which produced the
show, paid tribute to his "dearly treasured friend" on
Facebook over the weekend.

"Not only was Dean a highly talented architect but he was
also an amazing dad to three very special children, who he
loved so deeply."

His death would "leave a void and ache in our hearts that is
almost unbearable", Mr Burton said.

"You have been the greatest friend I could have and my life
is so much the richer for your input. ... Words cannot
describe how much you will be missed."

Mr Wylie's funeral will be held tomorrow at 2pm at C3 Church
in Ellerslie.

Dean Wyllie

*Successful architect who graduated from Victoria University.

*Began his career in New Zealand before working in London,
Moscow and the Pacific Islands.

*Led the design team on London's Waterloo Station Development
in 1993 for the Channel Tunnel train service.

*Returned to New Zealand and started his own practice, Wyllie
Architects, in Auckland in the mid-1990s.

*Worked as reality television architect on Prime TV's The
Kiwi Dream show, hosted by Evie Ashton.